Movable display device



Jan. 24, 1939. w g c soN 2,144,835

MOVABLE DISPLAY DEVICE .Filed April 16, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W/LL lAM DICK/IVSO/V INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY Jan. 24, 1939. w. DICKINSON MOVABLE DISPLAY DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1937 IIIIIIII/A'III/AIk2!IIII///IIIIII/IIIIII/III u rA WILLIAM DICKINSON INVENTOR.

BY (7W ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1939. w DICKINSON 2,144,835

MOVABLE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 16, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ML LIAM DICKINSON INVENTORI.

A TTORNEY Patented Jan. 24, 1939 PATENT OFFICE MOVABLE orsrmv mavroa William Dickinson, Spokane, wash.

Application April 16,

Claims.

My present invention relates to improvements in movable display devices with special reference to that class of displays that enable merchants to adequately display such articles as dresses,

5 coats or suits ondress forms attached to pedestals and wherein my invention permits the rotation and lateral travel of such pedestals thus showing all sides of each model and bringing them closer to the show window for closer inspection from the outside.

General description The invention resides in a base or pedestal for the model or form on which the articles for display are placed, and as many'pedestals may be used in one display as desired, each pedestal being independent of the other, and simply placed on the surface of the display floor whence it or they immediately begin to rotate and move around through a predetermined circuitous path as will be subsequently shown, the pedestals being actuated by a magnetic flux set up by a system of magnets concealed beneath the floor. This tends to attract many shoppers that ordinarily would not stop to see the display, and thereby increasing the value of the display window many times.

Objects and drawings The primary object is to bring the merchandise to the attention of as many prospective purchasers as possible, and it is well known among advertisers that a live window will attract more attention than one in which the objects are inanimately displayed. Another object is to afford the window shopper to inspect at closer range all sides of the articles on display. Still another and most important object is to keep the display moving to prevent damage to one side of the article from the sun's rays, thus decreasing the sale value of perhaps an expensive suit, dress or coat. These and other objects will become apparent in different localities and displays.

From the description following, together with the drawings which are a part of this application, a comprehensive knowledge of the mechanism and operation will be gained as to the best mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of my invention, but obviously, my invention is susceptible of embodiment in other 50 forms than that illustrated and described and I therefore consider as my own all such modifications and adaptations of the form of thadevice herein described as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which the sev- 1937. Serial No. 137,318

eral parts are designated by numerals, the same numeral being used to designate the same part throughout the several views, and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view in elevation, of a display window, showing two models mounted on 5 as many pedestals which rotate'around their respective vertical axes and simultaneously move around the floor in a path indicated by the dotted lines, say in the direction shown by the arrows, while none of the mechanism that ani- 10 mates the pedestal is discernible above the iloor.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a pedestal with the top and outer casing removed, showing the rollers, the center one being the driver as well as the pivot on which the pedestal is permitted to turn 16 corners, the other three being idlers, or casters, and used to keep the pedestal base oil? the floor. Also in this view are shown two hinged members which receive the magnetic energy from the magnets under the floor, the operation of which will 20 be subsequently explained.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section through the floor, taken on line 33 of Figs. 2 and 4, in the direction of the line of travel, the outline of the pedestal being shown on the floor to show its re- 25 lation thereto.

Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3, except that it is taken on line 4-4 of Figs. 2 and 3. f

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the pedestal base with the top and side casing removed, 30 similar to Fig. 2, but in this view more of the operating mechanism is shown.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the pedestal taken on line B-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a vertical section of one of the right 35 angle motion imparting devices, taken on line of Fig. 5, and used in the transmission of power to the center, or traction roller.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the system of magnets as arranged under the floor.

Figs. 9 and 10 are end and side elevations respectively, of Fig. 8, and show partial sections taken on lines ill-l0, and l2-l2 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the wiring diagram, showing the energizing wires and their attach- 45 ments to the magnets shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a. vertical cross section of one of the magnets and its wiring and taken on line |2-I2 of Fig. 8, the wiring being additional in Fig. 12.

balancing casters 3 and 4, shown primarily in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, which serve to keep the bottom 55 possible, say about one-eighth of an inch. Frame .l, as shown in Fig. 2 also carries two hinged members which will be called paddles, designated and 1 respectively, and hinged to frame I at 3 and- 8, the inner ends of which move vertically of an inch when acted on by the magnetic flux of the magnet system described later. Also located near the hinged ends of paddles 5 and I are guide bars II and I2 which are magnetically I influenced by the above mentioned magnetic flux and serve to hold the pedestal on the line of travel, Fig. 1. Casters 3 and 4 are limitedly rotatable about the pivot pins l4 and I5, openings l6 being. provided in the frame I to permit of such limited movement. A similar opening I! permits the center or traction roller 2 to project through so as to contact the floor 5. Frame I also carries a rotatable cover plate l8, shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, together with the operating mechanisms shown in Fig. 5.

Paddle 6, hinged at 3, is shown in its extreme raised position which indicates that such section of magnet system i0, composed of a series of sections as shown in Fig. 8, as lies directly beneath the free end of paddle 5 has become temporarily de-energized, therefore the spring I3 has acted against the upright member of paddle 5 to move it about the hinge pin 3. In doing this, the free or inner end of paddle 6, having an arm 20 attached thereto, raises the slotted portion of clutch arm 2|, which is free to revolve about shaft 22 on an upward stroke of paddle 5, but on a downward stroke arm 2| clutches the serrated half of clutch 23, causing it to move a small distance around shaft 22. Attached to clutch member 23 and around shaft 22 is a coil spring 24, the opposite end of which is attached to a collar 25 which is part of the governor 26, the latter bei mounted on a sleeve 21 which carries onits 0pposite end the friction roller 23 serving-to rotate the horizontally disposed plate 29, which, in turn, rotates friction roller 30. See also Fig. 7. 0bviously this will, in turn, through shaft 3|, bevel gears 32 and 33, and shaft 34 impart rotary motion to traction roller 2, which propels. the pedestal. While the power as received from paddle 5. is intermittent, it is stored in the spring 24, dispenses it evenly, similarly to that of a clock.

Guide bars II and i2 are preferably of soft magnetic iron and when influenced by the magnetic flux under the floor 5 serve to keep the pedestal on the prescribed line of travel. All of the parts and mechanisms used in the pedestal are of non-magnetic materials except paddles 6 and 1, and the guide bars ii and i2, which should be susceptible to magnetic influences.

The pedestal rotating mechanism is identically the same as the one just described for rotating roller except that spring 35 around shaft 35 and actuated by clutch 31, arm 33 and paddle l, imparts its stored energy, in this instance. to a pair of spur gears 39 and 40, the latter being attached to worm shaft 4! as shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 6 the pedestal cover I8 is shown in vertical section and is attached to a roller bearing center plate 42, provided on its under side with a worm gear 43 which is rotated by the worm and shaft 4|. This cover I5 together with worm.gear 43 may be lifted from its roller bearing seat 44 for inspection, regulation or oiling the interior mechanisms.

ItwillbeobservedthatinFig.6thatthepad- 2,144,885 of frame I oflthefloor 5, butasclose toitas die I is in a horizontal, or down position, and that its raising spring 45 is compressed. Paddle I was pulled down-at its free end by the power of the magnetic flux intermittently set up in the system of magnets it, working .through the top floor 5, shown in Figs. 4 and 5. As paddle I is pulled down it causes clutch arm 31 to move through a short arc, increasing the. tension in coil spring 35, and as the paddle 1 moves up, the clutch dog 45 prevents a reversal of that movement, thereby permitting spring 35 to retain the added power accruing from the downward movement of the paddle l. The clutches 2| and 31 are the well known product of manufacturers and obtainable in the open market.

Generally, to prevent oil or grease from dripping from the pedestal base to the polished floor 5, upturned flanges are made at all openings and around the periphery of the base frame I, such as indicated at 41, Fig. 5.

Floor and magnet construction path of travel of the pedestals, longitudinal and transverse cross sections of the alterations are clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The floors usually consist of a rough sub floor covered by a thin hardwood floor as 43 and 5 respectively, Fig. 3. In this instance the sub floor 48 is cut away between the floor joists 49 as at 50, permitting the installation of a trough of some non-magnetic substance such as aluminum or sheet brass, as 5|, to be installed, and which completely encloses the magnetic system l0, together with the wires 52, 53, and 54, and the trough is supported by stirrups 55 anchored to the sub-floor; special cuts and reinforcements being made at turns to accommodate the trough. The magnetic system l0 consists of a series of sections of two soft iron bars 55 rigidly attached to several U-shaped soft iron magnets 51, supported in the trough by wooden blocks 58, or other convenient means, the magnets being wound in the usual manner as shown in Fig. 12, and the wires of each attached to the feeder wires 52, 53, and 55, Fig. 11. The arrangements of said sections being shown graphically in 8, 8, and I5, and a transverse cross section of the bars 55, magnet 51 and its wiring being shown in Fig. 12. In Figs. 8, 9, and 10 the wiring is not shown in the drawings.

Electric energy This is derived from a primary source and is preferably a D. C. current working through a constant potential motor-generator 59, a controller 50, and an interrupter switch 5|, Fig. 11, whose functions and arrangement are well known to those skilled in the art. Interrupter switch ii is arranged to make and break the current in wire 52 say at the rate of 120 times per minute. It will be obvious that each alternate section of the magnetic system ill will be animated and deadened 60 times per-minute, also that the paddies 5 and I will be raised and lowered 60 times 1. In a'movable display device, the combination of a pedestal comprising a base frame, a cover for the frame, propelling rollers movably attached to the frame, mechanisms attached inside the frame for actuating the rollers, and means for providing an intermittent magnetic flux acting through a floor to cause motion to the mechanisms inside the frame.

2. In a movable display device, a pedestal having a base frame and cover, the combination of traction rollers movably attached to the frame, magnetic guide pilots rigidly attached to the frame to hold the pedestal on its predetermined course of travel, movable means attached to the frame for imparting rotary motion to the rollers, and external means for imparting magnetic energy to said pilots and said movable means for imparting rotary motion to said rollers.

3. In a movable display device, the combination of a pedestal having a base frame, a rotatable cover detachably mounted on the base frame, means for rotating said cover on the base frame, a governor to regulate the speed of said rotating means, a spring for storing and dispensing power, a. clutch attached to the spring, a rotatable shaft through said clutch and spring, a rotatably mounted arm on the clutch, a hinged member hingedly connected to the base frame, means for connecting said hinged member at its free end to said arm on the clutch, and a source of magnetic energy for imparting intermittent power to said hinged means.

4. In a movable display device, the combination of a pedestal having a rotatable cover, a hinged member hingedly attached to said pedestal, an arm on the free end of the hinged member for connection with a clutch, a clutch having an arm to engage the arm on the hinged member, a shaft through the clutch, a spring, one end of which is attached to the clutch for collecting, storing and dispensing power transmitted by the hinged member through the clutch, the other end of said spring being attached to me'ans for rotating said rotatable cover, and means for supplying intermittent energy to said hinged member.

5. In a movable display device, a pedestal having a base frame, and rotatable cover, vertically movable members hingedly attached on one end to said base frame, vertically inclined arms at the hinged end of each hinged member, laterally adjustable pins through the upper ends of said arms, springs on the pins, frames for carrying said springs and pins, said springs acting as cushions and also to return the free ends of the hinged members to an upward position when not influenced by the magnetic flux set up by a system of magnets, the existence of which is herewith claimed as part of the invention.

WILLIAM DICKINSON. 

